San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1887-01-20
much what Lady severne could be IKE.
CHATTER VIM.

the generality of guests at Westwood,
that | thought very little of the coming
visitors. 1t was evident that Lady
Yorke was deeply interested in them,
but then she had said candidly that it
was Lord Severne rather than his wife
who had pleased her. We had many
discussions about them, and il seemed
TO me that Lady Severne did not stand
very high in the estimation either Of
husband or wife. Lord Yorke, who
was kindness and charity itself, men
toned her always in a tone OF tolera-
ton, yet at the same time leaving an
impression that she was what Lady
YOrke called power
SIS Lady Saverne very beautifully /
asked Lady Yorke on the morning when
her guests were expected to arrive.
Every; she has one of those faces
with roseate bloom, and her complex
ion is simply incompatible. But, beau
tiful as she is, do not like her. You
are a good Judge Of character; you will
be able to judge for yourself when they
come"
Lord and Lady Severne were to reach
Westwood on Tuesday, the twentieth
of May. Lady Yorke had ordered q
lavish supply of magnificent flowers
to be placed in Lady Severne's room.
THAT is one point in her character
which like" said Lady Yorke; "she
is very fond of flowers. 1t pleases me
always to see woman fond Of flow
ers." Then she continued, with some
thing of a conscious blush on her face,
miss Chester, know / shall be very
much engaged while the Severnes are
here, but must not neglect my poor.
/ hope | shall never fall again into that
terrible, apathetic way of thinking Of
no one but myself. If it be really i'm
possible for me to leave home, you will
undertake any little commission for
me, will you notp"
Iwould have gone anywhere for her;
/ was so rejOiced TO see the earnest,
kindly expression ON the face that had
once revealed nothing but self-love and
discomfort.
Every preparation had been made for
our visitors. Lady Mary Avon and her
brother Sir Charles were two handsome,
fashionable persons, rich and popular.
Lady Mary had many admirers, but
could not tolerate the word marriage"
Sir Charles was looking out for wife.
Captain Forester was heir-presump>
tive to an earldom, and was consequent
" much sought after. Sir Harry de
DulSh Wdo d NOuIB lllSi IhiOuCIi OuO
of the most popular men in England,
and Lady Grey was young widow
with large fortune.
"A well-assorted party of guests"
said Lady Yorke complacently;" and
the great beauty Of the arrangement Is
that they will amuse each other. Lord
Severne will generally fall to my lot, If
the same thing happens here that took
place invariably in Italy. He liked to
saunter by my side in his grave, melan-
chOly fashion, while Lady Severne gen.
orally attracted all the men to herself.
She will do the same here. l am 80
glad" continued Lady Yorke, that
you sing so beautifully, Miss Chester.
Lord Severne likes music. His wife
sings, but he does not care for her style,
and always discOurageS her."
Tuesday came, bright morning, but
with the warning of a coming rain
storm on its face. There was a low
wall in sle wind, darkening at times
of the sky, strange stiffness in the air
such as always precedes storm.
1t was midday when message came
from WOodheaton, asking help for
poor family, one of whOm-the father
was dangerously i'll, the wife had met
with severe accident, and the children
were destitute. The poor were begin
ming TO know to whom they should
send; they were beginning to love Lady
Yorke, for they knew that no one ever
asked her help in vain. She came TO
me and asked me to act for her.
II must be here to receive our visit
ors," she said. II give you carte blanche,
Miss Chester"
So it was as Lady Yorke's almoner
that l went ont on that day. Lord
Yorke babe me beware of the threaten
ing storm, but told him that did not
think it would break until the morrow.
But, when was on the point Of return
ing from Woodheaton. the rain de-
scended in torrents. For an ordinary
shower | should not have cared in the
least, but this storm was terrible. 1t
seemed as though the heavens were
opened, such tempest ragged on that
fair, tranquil countryside. The sky
was like lead, the wind blew fiercely;
and then lightning flashed and the
thunder came. The storm lasted some
hours; and when the sky cleared and
the rain ceased it was night. Lady
Yorke, who was always kind and
thoughtful, sent a closed carriage after
me.
AS we drove up the avenue, the car
riage stopped suddenly, and the coach
man sprang down from the box and
came to me.
do you see what has happened, Miss
Chester" he asked.
Looking out, l saw by the pale,
watery CLEAN of the moon that great
beech-tree, said to be the largest and
finest of it's kind in England, and called
Igrrbo DriIn ~ IUactnnnH ~ had haaO
blown down.
"Why, his lordship will be more
grieved over this tree than if half the
house had been blown down." said the
cOachman, in grave voice. II am
very sorry, miss, but, you see, the
branches reach all across the drive. l
cannot take the carriage any farther;
must go back to the courtyard"
/ saw that the honest, simple man, a
faithful retainer of the House of Yorke,
was deeply distressed. He shook his
head as he led the frightened horse
away.
II never like such great trees to fall,
Miss Chester" he said. They are the
glory of a house. / always think bad
luck follows"
l cannOt tell why, but, as went to
my room, a sense of oppression and COM
ing sorrow seized me. / could not be-
lieve in the superstition that the falling
of great tree must mean evil. That
was nonsense. But my heart wal heavy,
my brain oppressed.
Fortunately for me, was great ia
vorite with Mrs. Masham, the house
keeper, and, when she heard that had
returned, she fastened to my room.
Any idea / might have had of going to
the drawing-rOom was speedily aband-
oned. She stood before me. stern as a